Radioisotopes as groundwater tracers

Wiebenga, W. A.; Ellis, W.R.; Seatonberry, BW; Andrew, John T.

doi:10.1029/jz072i016p04081

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Formulas 2 and 2a are important in their own right. The ratio of apparent flow rate .and average monitored flow velocity can be measured in the field in many instances [Wiebenga et al, 1967], and hence the specific yield can be estimated directly from field measurements.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empirical Relations in Properties of Unconsolidated Quartz Sands and Silts Pertaining to Water Flow

Wiebenga¹,

Ellis²,

Kevi³

1970

Water Resources Research

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During a laboratory investigation using radiotracers, empirical formulas were developed to replace the ambiguous or incorrect Dupuit‐Forchheimer assumption used in relationships governing the flow of water through porous, unconsolidated materials ranging from clay to coarse sands or fine gravels. The Dupuit‐Forchheimer assumption states that the ratio of specific flow rate to average flow velocity is equal to porosity, but it is not specified whether true porosity or void ratio or specific yield, also called effective porosity, is meant. The hydraulic conductivity shows a good correlation with the maximum 10% grain size, and the ratio of specific flow rate to average flow velocity shows good correlation with functions of specific yield and percentile sorting coefficient. From field measurements of specific flow rate and average flow velocity the specific yield can be computed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empirical Relations in Properties of Unconsolidated Quartz Sands and Silts Pertaining to Water Flow

Wiebenga¹,

Ellis²,

Kevi³

1970

Water Resources Research

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“…I)uring an investigation of aquifer parameters by means of radioisotopes in the Burdekin-i)elta area of Queensland, Australia [Wiebenga et al, 1967], it was observed that, when a radioactive solution was added to a borehole, the amount of lateral spreading during its passage to an adjacent pumped bore was very small. To improve the efficiency of field experiments, more information on both lateral and longitudinal spread of a solution flowing through a porous medium is required.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The investigation of water flow through porous mediums by means of radiotracers

Ellis¹,

Kevi²,

Wiebenga³

1968

Water Resources Research

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Is unique scaling of aquifer macrodispersivity supported by field data?

et al. 2015

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Spreading of conservative solutes in groundwater due to aquifer heterogeneity is quantified by the macrodispersivity, which was found to be scale dependent. It increases with travel distance, stabilizing eventually at a constant value. However, the question of its asymptotic behavior at very large scale is still a matter of debate. It was surmised in the literature that macrodispersivity scales up following a unique scaling law. Attempts to define such a law were made by fitting a regression line in the log‐log representation of an ensemble of macrodispersivities from multiple experiments. The functional relationships differ among the authors, based on the choice of data. Our study revisits the data basis, used for inferring unique scaling, through a detailed analysis of literature marcodispersivities. In addition, values were collected from the most recent tracer tests reported in the literature. We specified a system of criteria for reliability and reevaluated the reliability of the reported values. The final collection of reliable estimates of macrodispersivity does not support a unique scaling law relationship. On the contrary, our results indicate, that the field data can be explained as a collection of macrodispersivities of aquifers with varying degree of heterogeneity where each exhibits its own constant asymptotic value. Our investigation concludes that transport, and particularly the macrodispersivity, is formation‐specific, and that modeling of transport cannot be relegated to a unique scaling law. Instead, transport requires characterization of aquifer properties, e.g., spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity, and the use of adequate models.

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Radioisotopes as groundwater tracers

Abstract: The radioisotopes iodine 131 and tritium were used to determine the specific yield and permeability in an aquifer near a pumping borehole. The direction and rate of flow of natural groundwater was also determined by means of a free flow test, using these isotopes.

Cited by 10 publications

References 3 publications

Empirical Relations in Properties of Unconsolidated Quartz Sands and Silts Pertaining to Water Flow

Empirical Relations in Properties of Unconsolidated Quartz Sands and Silts Pertaining to Water Flow

The investigation of water flow through porous mediums by means of radiotracers

Is unique scaling of aquifer macrodispersivity supported by field data?

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